Connecticut Hunting Seasons: Updated


This page of Connecticut hunting seasons is updated annually. While Thepredatorhunter.com focuses on coyotes, fox, and bobcats, it is hoped other game hunters will take up predator hunting as well. We suggest you check out these predator hunting links specific to the state of Connecticut:

Purchase a hunting license in Connecticut here.

Learn the rules for hunting coyotes in Connecticut.

Learn the rules for hunting fox in Connecticut.

Connecticut Hunting Seasons
Connecticut Hunting Seasons.

Connecticut hunting seasons for deer.

Archery Deer Season

Season Dates

  • Jan. 1 – Jan. 31   Private Land (Zones 11-12) (zone map)
  • Sept. 15 – Dec. 31   Private Land (All zones; zone map)
  • Sept. 15 – Nov. 15 and Dec. 21 – Dec. 31   State Land
  • Sept. 15 – Dec. 31   State Land Bowhunting Only Areas

Bag Limit: 2 either sex and 2 antlerless (4 total); additional bag of 1 either sex and 1 antlerless (2 total) during the Jan. 1-31 season on private lands in zones 11 and 12.

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. 

License and Permits: Small Game and Deer Archery Permit. Must show proof of completion of Connecticut’s CE/FS bowhunting course (since 1982) or its equivalent from another state or country when purchasing a small game and deer archery permit. A previous Connecticut bowhunting permit purchased in 2002 or later also qualifies. 

Archery-only Lottery Deer Hunting

Season Dates

  • Sept. 15 – Dec. 31

Bag Limit: 2 either sex and 2 antlerless; hunters will use the archery deer permit tags.

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

License and Permits: Archery deer/small game license and an archery-only lottery permit. Only one archery-only lottery deer permit may be bought each year. 

State Land Lottery Deer Hunting 

Season Dates

  • Nov. 16 – Nov. 25    State Land Lottery “A” Season
  • Nov. 16 – Dec. 6    State Land Regular Lottery Season

Bag Limit: 1 either sex on state land areas; variable on Controlled Hunt Areas.

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. 

License and Permits: Firearms hunting license and a state land lottery permit or a controlled hunt area lottery permit. Only one Firearms State Land Lottery Deer permit may be bought each year. 

State Land No-Lottery Deer Hunting 

Season Dates:

  • Nov. 16 – Dec. 6

Bag Limit: 1 either sex

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

License and Permits: Firearms hunting license and a State Land No-Lottery Permit. You may buy only one type of State Land Shotgun Deer Permit. So, you should not purchase a State Land No-Lottery Permit if you plan on applying for a State Land Lottery Permit. 

Private Land Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver Deer Hunting

Season Dates:

  • Nov. 16 – Dec. 6

Bag Limits:

  • Statewide (except Zones 2 and 4A): 1 either sex and 1 antlerless
  • Zones 2 and 4A: 1 either sex (“Antlerless Only” tag NOT valid)
  • Zone 7: 1 additional antlerless
  • Zones 11 and 12: 2 additional antlerless
  • Deer Management Zone map

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

License and Permits: Firearms hunting license and Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer permit. Note: Revolver Deer Endorsement is also required if using a revolver. 

Landowner Deer Hunting

Season Dates:

  • Nov. 1 – Dec. 31

Bag Limit: 2 deer; 1 either sex and 1 antlerless

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

Free Landowner Permits are available only to persons owning 10 or more contiguous acres of land. Additional permits are available for their spouses, lineal descendants, parents, grandparents, and siblings. Archery deer hunting is allowed on private land only on Sundays in ALL Deer Management Zones (zone map).

License and Permits: Free Landowner Deer Permit. Appropriate hunting license required if landowner does not live on qualifying property. Note: Revolver Deer Endorsement is also required if using a revolver. For hunting with a bow or crossbow, landowners must have a certificate indicating successful completion of a Connecticut Conservation Education/Firearms Safety bowhunting course (or recognized equivalent).

State Land Deer Muzzleloader Hunting

Season Dates:

  • Dec. 7 – Dec. 20

Bag Limit: 1 either sex

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

License and Permits: Firearms hunting license and State Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit. 

Private Land Deer Muzzleloader Hunting

Season Dates:

  • Dec. 7 – Dec. 31

Bag Limits:

  • Statewide (except Zones 2 and 4A): 1 either sex and 1 antlerless
  • Zones 2 and 4A: 1 either sex
  • Zone 7: 1 additional antlerless
  • Zones 11 and 12: 2 additional antlerless
  • Deer Management Zone map

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

License and Permits: Firearms hunting license and Private Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit. 

Connecticut hunting seasons for wild turkey.

Spring Turkey Season

Season Dates

  • April 27 – May 28    State Land, Private Land, and Landowner

Bag Limit

  • 5 bearded birds (on private land or state land or a combination of both).

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

License Requirements:

Connecticut hunting seasons for Fall Archery Turkey

Season Dates

  • Jan. 1 – Jan. 31   Private Land (Zones 11 and 12; zone map)
  • Sept. 15 – Dec. 31   Private Land (All Zones; zone map)
  • Sept. 15 – Nov. 15 and Dec. 21 – Dec. 31   State Land
  • Sept. 15 – Dec. 31   State Land Bowhunting Only Areas

Bag Limits

  • State and Private Land — 2 either sex

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset

License Requirements:

  • CT Residents: Small Game and Deer Archery Permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.
  • Non-residents: Non-resident small game and deer archery permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.
  • Landowners (who own 10 or more contiguous acres) must obtain a Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp to hunt wild turkeys on their property. Landowners who wish to hunt on other private land or state land for wild turkeys must purchase the Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp for $28. There is no additional bag limit for turkeys due to the Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.

Connecticut hunting seasons for Fall Turkey 

Season Dates

  • Oct. 1 – Oct. 31    State Land, Private Land, and Landowner

Bag Limit

  • 3 either sex (on private land or state land or a combination of both).

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

License Requirements:

  • CT Residents: Firearms hunting license and Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.
  • Non-residents: 3-day out-of-state bird hunting license or non-resident firearms hunting license and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.
  • Landowners (who own 10 or more contiguous acres) must obtain a Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp to hunt wild turkeys on their property. Landowners who wish to hunt on other private land or state land for wild turkeys must purchase the Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp for $28. There is no additional bag limit for turkeys due to the Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.

Connecticut hunting seasons for small game and pheasants.

Resident Game Bird Hunting Seasons

Species: Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Quail, Chukar, Hungarian Partridge, and Wild Turkey (turkey hunting season information).

Major Pheasant Stocking Areas

Season Dates

  • Pheasant: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 and Oct. 15 – Dec. 31
  • Ruffed Grouse: Oct. 15 – Nov. 30
  • Quail: Oct. 15 – Oct. 31
  • Chukar and Hungarian Partridge: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 and Oct. 15 – Dec. 31

Bag Limits

  • Pheasant: Daily (2); Season (10)
  • Ruffed Grouse: Daily (1); Season (8)
  • Quail: Daily (2); Season (10)
  • Chukar and Hungarian Partridge: Daily (2); Season (10)

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset.

License Requirements — Firearms or Archery Hunting License and a Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.

Crow Hunting

Season Dates: (hunting only on certain days)

  • Jan. 8 – March 26: Monday through Saturday
  • Aug. 13 – Oct. 7: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
  • Oct. 15 – Nov. 30: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

Bag Limit: No limit

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset.

Connecticut hunting seasons for migratory birds.

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
SeasonNorth ZoneSouth Zone
EarlyOct. 9 – Oct. 16, 2021Oct. 9 – Oct. 13, 2021
LateNov. 11, 2021 – Jan. 11, 2022Nov. 16, 2021 – Jan. 19, 2022

Daily Bag Limit: Ducks – 6AB     Coots -15

Possession Limit: Ducks – 18AB    Coots – 45

Scaup
North ZoneSouth ZoneDaily Bag LimitPossession Limit
Oct. 9 – Oct. 16, 2021Oct. 9 – Oct. 13, 202113
Nov. 11 – Dec. 18, 2021Nov. 16 – Dec. 27, 202113
Dec. 20, 2021 – Jan. 11, 2022Dec. 28, 2021 – Jan. 19, 202226
Sea Ducks C (Scoter, Oldsquaw, Eider)

Season Dates (South Zone Only): Nov. 11, 2021 – Jan. 19, 2022

Daily Bag Limit: 5D

Possession Limit: 15D

Canada Geese E
SeasonNorth ZoneSouth ZoneDaily Bag LimitPossession Limit
Special SeptemberSept. 1 – Sept. 30, 2021Sept. 15 – Sept. 30, 20211545
Regular
AP UnitF
See Map
Nov. 25 – Dec. 11, 2021
Dec. 18, 2021 – Jan. 4, 2022
– – –13
Regular
AFRP UnitG
See Map
Oct. 9 – Oct. 16, 2021
Nov. 11 – Dec. 11, 2021
Dec. 24, 2021 – Feb. 14, 2022
Oct. 9 – Oct. 16, 2021
Nov. 11 – Dec. 11, 2021
Dec. 24, 2021 – Feb 15, 2022
515
Regular
NAP-H UnitH
See Map
Oct. 9 – Oct. 16, 2021
Nov. 11, 2021 – Jan. 11, 2022
Oct. 9 – Oct. 16, 2021
Nov. 11, 2021 – Jan. 11, 2022
26
Special Late– – –Jan. 15 – Feb. 15I , 2022515
Snow Geese (includes Blue Geese)
North ZoneSouth ZoneDaily Bag LimitPossession Limit
Oct. 1, 2021 – Jan. 15, 2022Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, 202125No limit
Feb. 22 – Mar. 10, 2022Jan. 6, 2021 – Mar. 10, 202225No limit
Brant

Season Dates: Nov. 15, 2021 – Jan. 11, 2022 (North Zone);  Nov. 23, 2021 – Jan. 19, 2022 (South Zone)

Daily Bag Limit: 2

Possession Limit: 6

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr.

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr. is a former Marine Sergeant and the author of several books, including two on night hunting coyotes and red and gray fox. He has written several hundred articles on predator hunting for ThePredatorHunter.com.

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